English Military records

Army

After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, military records became more plentiful. The main War Office records contain a great deal of information. Records for officers and other ranks up to the start of the 1st World War are kept at the Public Record Office at Kew in Richmond, London. Records since then are in the custody of the Ministry of Defence. For further information, contact the Army Historical Branch, Old War Office Building, London SW1A 2EU.

Navy

Information concerning naval personnel can be obtained from the Naval Historical Branch, The Admiralty, London. The Admiralty Records are also in the Public Record Office at Kew.

Marines

Records of the Royal Marines are also in the Public Record Office, but many of the early documents are lost.

The records which are held in the Public Record Office are divided between two buildings, the original repository in Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR and the more recent building at Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU. Look for most military records at the Kew building. The Kew building is less than ten minutes walk from the Kew Gardens Underground station which is served by the District Line.